When submissions started pouring in, no one expected a newspaper that was almost 200 years old.

"We were really excited about the response," AL.com consumer marketing manager Randy Granger said. "It's humbling to see what an important part of history that the Press-Register has truly been and how people hang onto that."

"There wasn't much time left when I read it but I told my wife that I had an old one and that I'd tell them what I have and it went from there," he said.

The father of three children, all girls, was "mighty happy" to learn that he won the contest.

"At first I didn't believe I won. My wife took the first call from a gentleman at the paper and I was out bushhoggin' in the pasture. I come in and she told me. I returned the call and they verified it," he said.

Entries by area residents also included historic editions confirmed to have been published in July 1820 and February 1821.

Manning, who said his passion for history is why he kept the paper, has an expansive collection of Monroe County historical artifacts as items from south Alabama.

"I like local history here," he said. "I started collecting when I was in high school."

His father owned a grocery store and would pass items along to him of interest, but the family also knew the McCall family, the familial namesake of the Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library is at the University of South Alabama archives.

"We sold a lot of things to him," Manning said. "Back then when you sold something, it was a deal but compared to today, I almost gave it away. Over the years, I've built my collection up."

With one caveat, of course.

"Anything that my wife didn't want in the house, I sold," said Manning. Beyond newspapers, Manning has collected tokens, coins and "a mixture of everything."

As for the 1819 newspaper, he has an idea where he stumbled upon the relic.

"They used to have a little auction about eight to 10 miles miles east of where I live and a lot of estates would sell things. I picked up a lot of stuff," Manning said.

Designated in 1997 as the literary capital of Alabama, Manning's hometown of Monroeville is known for being the home of famous American writers Harper Lee and Truman Capote.

While "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "In Cold Blood" are important markers in the history of Monroe County, Manning has designated himself as a volunteer historian to ensure that other tales aren't forgotten.

"When young people come to the museums, they're going to see 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and Truman Capote," said Manning. "There's just more than that to Monroe County."

He's concerned that the youth of southern Alabama are not going to know their roots if history isn't preserved.

For example, Manning pointed to the story of Claiborne Alabama, now a ghost-town after Yellow Fever and the Civil War diminished the town in the 1800s. "They won't know about Claiborne," said Manning.

Manning was able to preserve documents regarding the history of Claiborne that he recovered at an estate sale.

Since landing in Monroe County as an 8-year-old in 1952, Manning has watched Alabama grow, noticing along the way that newspapers are far different than they were in the early 1900s, moreover the 1800s.

His copy of the 1819 paper is the perfect illustration: the newspaper contains headlines from English news and fine-point print within its few pages instead of the heavy imagery as used today.

"Back then, newspapers didn't have many pages. Now, you have numerous pages and advertisements. Back then, advertisements were worded," Manning said. "Most news back then was brought in by boat or horse and it was old by the time you got it."

Manning said he still reads every edition of the newspaper, and, thanks to his winning paper, he will now have a choice of how to read the news.

The contest carried with it the prize of an Apple iPad Mini, which Manning will be happy to use, just as soon as his WiFi is connected.

"My oldest daughter is going to get that taken care of," he said.

As for his collection habits, Manning says he will continue keeping up with history as it's made.

"I still collect," he says. "I am retired; I just do what my wife tells me to now."